Grandma Ione

A month ago I learned that my Grandmother, Ione, has lung cancer. A month ago it was confirmed that my grandma is not invincible or immortal. She is going die, perhaps, sooner rather than later. That is so hard to think about, or even write in a sentence. Grandma Ione is a very special person to me. Back in the school days, whenever I was asked to write an essay about “who do you want to be when you grow up”, I often wrote about her. She is among the most caring, funny, outgoing, and Christ-centered women I know.

There are so many things about Grandma that I don’t want to forget. Like when I would spend the night at her house she would always have a little glass of water for me on the nightstand. In the mornings she would be in her living room wearing a long flowing nightgown soaking her feet in a little tub of water reading her bible. I would sit on her lap and she would read the bible to me. We would always eat cheerios and wheat toast cut into squares for breakfast. She is responsible for my current coffee addiction. She loved to “show off” her grandkids at the snack bar at Wal-Mart. One time she took out her false teeth and chased my brother and me around the house with them in her hand! After I had my appendix removed when I was 12 years old she came to my hospital room and washed my hair with wonderful smelling Maleluca shampoo. One night when I was 16 and didn’t come home all night (a matter of miscommunication with my parents) she rescued me from my very upset mother (who had every reason to be mad – I get that now that I am a parent) and took me out for breakfast. My mom was not too happy with Grandma, but I will never forget spending that morning her. It is such a special memory now.

She loved going to church.

She has the most beautiful hands.

She was the epitome of grace when she took care of my dying grandfather.

After Cael was born she referred to him as Curtis (his middle name) because she thought his actual name was “goofy”. She has since warmed up to his name, and I think she might even like it.

I went to college about 10 minutes from her house. I loved going to her house for a home-cooked meal. Now I realize I didn’t go nearly often enough. She would always send me out the door with a plate full of brownies and kringla. During one of those visits I expressed to her that I was worried that she might be lonely in her house all by herself. I will never forget her response – she said, “Missy, I am never alone. Jesus Christ is always here with me. Don’t you ever worry about me being lonely.”




On my wedding day she exclaimed, “This is more exciting than the day you were born!” I think she loves my husband almost as much as I do!

I recently asked her about what her life was like when her kids were little. She explained to me that she would be home with her five kids during the day and then work at the local factory during the night shift. She told me that when I feel like complaining about my life with little ones that I need to just “shut my mouth” because I have no idea what “hard” is. I think she is right. She was an incredibly hard worker.

About a month before Avery was born Grandma suffered a stroke. She is a bit different since her stroke, but she has managed to remain living in her own home. Her memory is a bit foggy. She doesn’t go many places. Now because of her cancer she is very thin and frail looking, but is still living on her own. She often talks about her wish to go to heaven. I pledge to not waste these last few weeks or months while she is on this earth. She still has a purpose. My plan is to visit her once a week as long as my cootie bug kiddos stay healthy. I plan to talk to her as much as she is able, and take lots of pictures of her spending time with my children. I am going to soak her up while she is still in my presence. Sort of like Tuesday’s with Morrie, except it will be Wednesday’s with Ione.

I love her. Many people love her. She will be sorely missed by all the people that she has touched throughout her life. The fantastic news is that she knows where she is going when her number is finally up, and she looks forward to walking those streets of gold hand-in-hand with Grandpa Bill in the presence of God.